Planet Rugby Forum

guy smiley wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 9:11 pm I'm glad to see NZ rugby got a mention there. For a while it was like being in Australia on ANZAC Day, all Diggers and Two Up before the punch up and the tears.

guy smiley wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:36 pm No Two Up bro. And bloody Aussies included in our sacred nation birthing ceremonies. It’s a disgrace.

Wanna punch on, cnut?

towny wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 3:31 pm The coverage of yesterday’s Super Rugby Oz final from Channel 9 was first class. Fox have never been close, and only half of that reason is because they didn’t care. They just don’t have the capability. It made me realise how important the move away from Fox was, and not just because Pay TV is a park brake to a sport’s growth.

Fortunately we now have Channel 9 involved and they are the real deal. For non Australians this won’t sound meaningful but this is the mob that have contributed significantly to the success of the NRL for decades. What they did with cricket was outstanding - they turned it into a powerhouse. Before 9, cricket had one camera recording the entire footage, but 9 jumped straight to 5 and quickly went to 13+. One-day cricket with coloured clothes and white balls played a night - all innovations from Channel 9. They focused on making the sports coverage entertaining and invested heavily from day 1 on stats, commentary and visual effects to increase the viewer experience. These guys did a number of world firsts in numerous sports that became the standard. Remember that yellow line in the pool that showed what the world record was for swimming? Or the national flags at the bottom of the pool? Or microphones on the field?
Channel 7 are great too fwiw.
It was actually a Channel 9 legend that left to form Foxsports in the US. Anyway, Australian sports have always been fortunate to have world class sports coverage that our tiny market had no rights to. But not rugby…. We had the rubbish crews from the start.

The emotive opening to the game the other night was so much better than Fox have ever done - they just don’t have that capability. This is where they’re soooooo good. Sometimes it’s corny, but they know how important it is to communicate on an emotional level. It’s in their DNA and it works so well. It was like we’ve been watching Steven Seagal movies for 30 years and then we see Marlon Brando’s opening monologue from Godfather.

Australian rugby won’t have the C Team anymore. We will now have world class production and marketing business driving the game. This is also great for the Kiwis, Fijians and the Pasifika Hotlungs as Channel 9 will increase the value of our game and all of our teams.

The Oz and Kiwi finals were awesome yesterday, but there is lots of other good news.

TV-ratings and subscriptions for Stan and 9 are apparently much higher than they expected and the word is that 9 is stoked with how it’s all going. They even shifted the live game to the main channel. But what’s their strategy?

The investment in a streaming platform is really interesting because the business model of streaming is so different from broadcast TV. Some analysts believe that 9 is moving away from major sports and instead focusing on niche sports, because the rights don’t cost crazy money and contribute more on a $ for $ basis as part of a bundle. If that’s true it’s great news for rugby. By putting main games on FTA (to generate revenue from advertising and drive interest in the game) and having a subscription (which is in a bundle on top of the regular Stan bundle) for the rest of the content, they can effectively sell the same product twice. It’s more complicated than that but this is too long already.
Channel 9 has already dropped cricket after a 40 year relationship and are threatening to ditch the NRL, so these analysts might be right!

We were in such a dark place 12 months ago and things are looking much better now, but if Channel 9 really does put its muscle behind rugby in this part of the world, I think we will soon see the business side of the sport looking really strong, which will mean less players leaving for richer pastures and more money available for grassroots. Sadly, Oz rugby would be giving the kiwis a free ride so there’s no guarantee that we would win the Bledisloe in the next 18 years, but we can’t have everything.

guy smiley wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:44 pm

shanky wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:38 pm

guy smiley wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:36 pm No Two Up bro. And bloody Aussies included in our sacred nation birthing ceremonies. It’s a disgrace.

Wanna punch on, cnut?

I'd have thought the punch-on was an essential part of the day.

Has Jesindah banned it?

Are we going to have a Prime Minister-off?

grievous wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:47 pm

towny wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 3:31 pm The coverage of yesterday’s Super Rugby Oz final from Channel 9 was first class. Fox have never been close, and only half of that reason is because they didn’t care. They just don’t have the capability. It made me realise how important the move away from Fox was, and not just because Pay TV is a park brake to a sport’s growth.

Fortunately we now have Channel 9 involved and they are the real deal. For non Australians this won’t sound meaningful but this is the mob that have contributed significantly to the success of the NRL for decades. What they did with cricket was outstanding - they turned it into a powerhouse. Before 9, cricket had one camera recording the entire footage, but 9 jumped straight to 5 and quickly went to 13+. One-day cricket with coloured clothes and white balls played a night - all innovations from Channel 9. They focused on making the sports coverage entertaining and invested heavily from day 1 on stats, commentary and visual effects to increase the viewer experience. These guys did a number of world firsts in numerous sports that became the standard. Remember that yellow line in the pool that showed what the world record was for swimming? Or the national flags at the bottom of the pool? Or microphones on the field?
Channel 7 are great too fwiw.
It was actually a Channel 9 legend that left to form Foxsports in the US. Anyway, Australian sports have always been fortunate to have world class sports coverage that our tiny market had no rights to. But not rugby…. We had the rubbish crews from the start.

The emotive opening to the game the other night was so much better than Fox have ever done - they just don’t have that capability. This is where they’re soooooo good. Sometimes it’s corny, but they know how important it is to communicate on an emotional level. It’s in their DNA and it works so well. It was like we’ve been watching Steven Seagal movies for 30 years and then we see Marlon Brando’s opening monologue from Godfather.

Australian rugby won’t have the C Team anymore. We will now have world class production and marketing business driving the game. This is also great for the Kiwis, Fijians and the Pasifika Hotlungs as Channel 9 will increase the value of our game and all of our teams.

The Oz and Kiwi finals were awesome yesterday, but there is lots of other good news.

TV-ratings and subscriptions for Stan and 9 are apparently much higher than they expected and the word is that 9 is stoked with how it’s all going. They even shifted the live game to the main channel. But what’s their strategy?

The investment in a streaming platform is really interesting because the business model of streaming is so different from broadcast TV. Some analysts believe that 9 is moving away from major sports and instead focusing on niche sports, because the rights don’t cost crazy money and contribute more on a $ for $ basis as part of a bundle. If that’s true it’s great news for rugby. By putting main games on FTA (to generate revenue from advertising and drive interest in the game) and having a subscription (which is in a bundle on top of the regular Stan bundle) for the rest of the content, they can effectively sell the same product twice. It’s more complicated than that but this is too long already.
Channel 9 has already dropped cricket after a 40 year relationship and are threatening to ditch the NRL, so these analysts might be right!

We were in such a dark place 12 months ago and things are looking much better now, but if Channel 9 really does put its muscle behind rugby in this part of the world, I think we will soon see the business side of the sport looking really strong, which will mean less players leaving for richer pastures and more money available for grassroots. Sadly, Oz rugby would be giving the kiwis a free ride so there’s no guarantee that we would win the Bledisloe in the next 18 years, but we can’t have everything.

You are completely wrong if you think Ch 9 are about to drop league. The only way they would lose it if Lachie Murdoch gets a share of Ch 7 and he out bids 9, the boy loves his loige.

guy smiley wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 4:47 am I wonder what Lachie was doing around at Se7en last week, dropped in for a coffee and chat?

Peteray wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 8:56 am Based on the Aussie games I've seen so far, Dave Rennie may have awakened the sleeping dragon so to speak, and they look much more adventurous.

Zakar wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 12:31 pm Will the chiefs be recovered from their hangover in time to play the Force?

kiap wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 1:26 pm Odds

Crusaders ($1.83)
Blues ($7)
Chiefs ($8.50)
Highlanders ($8.50)
Hurricanes ($8.50)
Reds ($13)
Brumbies ($15)
Rebels ($67)
Force ($151)
Waratahs ($501)

kiap wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 1:26 pm Odds

Crusaders ($1.83)
Blues ($7)
Chiefs ($8.50)
Highlanders ($8.50)
Hurricanes ($8.50)
Reds ($13)
Brumbies ($15)
Rebels ($67)
Force ($151)
Waratahs ($501)

Peteray wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:23 pm

kiap wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 1:26 pm Odds

Crusaders ($1.83)
Blues ($7)
Chiefs ($8.50)
Highlanders ($8.50)
Hurricanes ($8.50)
Reds ($13)
Brumbies ($15)
Rebels ($67)
Force ($151)
Waratahs ($501)

Yeah, Naah... I wouldn't be banking on those odds reflecting what's ahead. Maybe for the overall winner, but not for a starting point on the pool match odds.

Auckman wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 11:36 pm I’ve only seen a Taniela Tupou post-match interview with SBW where Tupou’s accent now sounds like he’s been watching NRL all his life.

kiap wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 1:26 pm Odds

Crusaders ($1.83)
Blues ($7)
Chiefs ($8.50)
Highlanders ($8.50)
Hurricanes ($8.50)
Reds ($13)
Brumbies ($15)
Rebels ($67)
Force ($151)
Waratahs ($501)

mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 12:52 am What have the Blues done to be second. Madness that they're ahead of the Chiefs and Reds.

Thomas wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 11:45 pm

Auckman wrote: ↑ I’ve only seen a Taniela Tupou post-match interview with SBW where Tupou’s accent now sounds like he’s been watching NRL all his life.

Aussie Thor!

He's a superstar. One of us now.

Auckman wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 1:03 am

Thomas wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 11:45 pm

Auckman wrote: ↑ I’ve only seen a Taniela Tupou post-match interview with SBW where Tupou’s accent now sounds like he’s been watching NRL all his life.

Aussie Thor!

He's a superstar. One of us now.

Indeed he is.

Ali's Choice wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:14 pm So apparently there are two matches tonight and then three in a row every Saturday for the duration of that's insane, basically like the NRL in terms of content. I have a really good feeling that broadcasters are going to want this comp.

Super Rugby: New Zealand teams could give Aussies taste of bad medicine
Richard Knowler

The pressure is on the Aussie teams to perform in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, because nothing makes New Zealand fans pinch their noses and run for the door faster than the prospect of another lop-sided result.

Watching Super Rugby Aotearoa each weekend was like being served up crayfish, salmon and juicy beef steaks, washed down by the finest French grog and fresh orange juice.

Anything less, now, will seem like sardines on toast. Coaches may have had their heads in their hands when the walking wounded hobbled out of the doctor’s office each Monday morning, but SRA was an entertaining blockbuster.

While it would be unfair to expect the Trans-Tasman tournament to produce the same drama and excitement as SRA, it would be nice to tune in each weekend with a sense of anticipation.

Because that’s what sport is about. Trans-Tasman, do your thing.

1 Clarke Dermody makes a rocky start to his tenure as Highlanders head coach.

The departure of Tony Brown, who will assist Jamie Joseph in preparing Japan to play the British and Irish Lions in Edinburgh next month, meant Dermody was unexpectedly promoted to the top post last week.

Within days of replacing Brown, who will return in 2022, Dermody was forced to deal with his first drama after All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was alleged to have assaulted a female at a bar last weekend.

Although Frizell has not been charged by police, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said it was best the player, who he believed would be cleared of breaking the law, not play the Reds in Dunedin on Friday night until the issue had been sorted.

2 Reds coach Brad Thorn makes multiple changes and the Tongan Thor, Taniela Tupou, is on the bench.

This isn’t a shock. The Reds’ win over the Brumbies, thanks to a try to James O’Connor in the 85th minute, in the SR Australia final in Brisbane was a ripper.

But it came at a cost. Ex-All Black lock Thorn may be a tough man, but he’s not silly. Injuries, and sore bodies have forced him to juggle his selections.

The question is whether he can influence the result against the Highlanders. The home side could have this in the bag, before the big man leaves the bench.

3 Ngani Laumape won’t be sighted at the G.

Wellington-based journalists had to ask Hurricanes coach Jason Holland the obvious after he revealed midfielder Laumape won’t play the Waratahs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Holland said All Black Laumape’s absence had nothing to do with him signing with French club Stade Francais, and he will be considered for the next game against the Rebels. No need for any conspiracy theories, said Holland. Fair enough. But the journos had to do their job.

4 Good riddance to the captain’s referral?

It has been ditched from this competition. That’s not a bad thing.

SRA was a great spectacle, but not because of the captain’s referral. It slowed the game down, and could be used for cynical reasons.

Rugby games need to speed up, not drop the anchor. Let’s not see it back.

5 Could it be an all-New Zealand final on June 19?

Too right. The NZ and Aussie teams are lumped together on a combined competition ladder, and play each other once.

After five rounds the two top-placed teams meet in the final. The Aussie teams are about to get a taste of Kiwi. The medicine may not taste sweet.

Zakar wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:35 pm

Ali's Choice wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:14 pm So apparently there are two matches tonight and then three in a row every Saturday for the duration of that's insane, basically like the NRL in terms of content. I have a really good feeling that broadcasters are going to want this comp.

..and next year there will be a Sunday game as well.

That's a lot of content, miles more than the old Super Rugby that had more teams yet less relevant games for broadcasters.

jdogscoop wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:44 pm QQ: Sydneysiders, does anyone refer to the SCG as the G?

I'd have thought that was even shorter hand for the MCG only.

I suspect Knowler doesn't get out much.

jdogscoop wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:44 pm QQ: Sydneysiders, does anyone refer to the SCG as the G?

I'd have thought that was even shorter hand for the MCG only.

I suspect Knowler doesn't get out much.

Masterji wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 11:28 pm Anyone showing it in the UK?

shanky wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 11:27 pm

jdogscoop wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 10:44 pm QQ: Sydneysiders, does anyone refer to the SCG as the G?

I'd have thought that was even shorter hand for the MCG only.

I suspect Knowler doesn't get out much.

Nah. It’s always been the SCG or maybe ‘the cricket ground’


The leaguies always wank themselves stupid about the ‘tradition’ of playing there, but the truth is, it’s a god-awful place to watch footy.